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Friday, May 31, 2013

I just had to show you the above photo which is
the end of a continuance really, but shows the real depth of Ron Busch's
work.
'A richly coloured variegata which glows with life, making a
beautiful clump in the garden', was the 1978 description
of 'Rich Melody' and his first variegata introduced back in 1976 and the description could equally apply today to Ron's seedling displayed above. He had
a long love affair with breeding variegata's and had great
success in the class, with 'Rich Melody' also giving him his first win
of the Begg Sheild (NZ) in 1978. This is one of many 2012 standout seedlings
and is a very tall bearded iris with big orange beards. It has
stolen Julie May's heart and she has suggested it be named 'Irwell
Flirt', but as with all seedlings further evaluation will take
place.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger,
higher resolution version.
Photo credit Julie May, copyright Iris Hunter.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

The Latin phrase, "omne trium perfectum" everything that comes in threes is perfect, or, every set of three is complete.
With this in mind a can't think of a better way to complete this weekends posts of three chartreuse lemon lime Irises with a photo of a new seedling that had its maiden bloom 2012, from the late great Ron Busch.
We are a long way off a green
chartreuse and maybe one day it will happen. Another great photo sent to share by Julie May the owner of
the legendary 'The Iris Garden'.
Have a great Weekend.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger,
higher resolution version.
Photo credit Julie May. Copyright Iris Hunter.

This is another New Zealand breed iris by the team atRichmond Iris Garden . Purchased this iris 2011-2012 season and its
maiden bloom at home was mid-October 2012. A larger 'Bayberry Candle'
look alike which has performed well. Clean growth, average increase. A good garden variety.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Strong grower with clean foliage, and great
increase. Magnificent branching and bud count, standards are a bright
lemon cream and falls are what I like to think as a amber caramel blend that sometimes can show a darker
splish splash colouration (which seems to be seasonal.) Yellow beards.
Fragrant. Gives a great display and this is why it is still a hit with gardeners today.
Bay Blooms Nurseries, Cambridge Road, Tauranga Spring / Summer 1996 Catalogue
HONEY GLAZED
Cream standards and deep caramel coloured falls with a cream edge. We
just love this one, and know of no other Iris of similar colourings.

The Medianite, Journal of The Median Society Fall, 2012.
More Intermediates??? Dave Niswonger
My experience with IB's began in 1979 when I crossed a seedling out of (Beau x Celestial Doll) with Turtledove (Moldovan
1972) which incidentally is a IB. From this cross I got two IB's that I
like very much. However I couldn't decide which one I like the best. In
approximately 1981, Region 18 decided to make the Spring Convention in
Wichiya, KS, a median one instead of a Tall Bearded convention. (this is
the only time I can recall that this happened) at this convention my
two IB seedlings were blooming side-by-side. So, I asked those nearby
which one they like the best. I got no immediate reply. Finally somebody
said, "why don't you introduce both of them?"I had never thought of
that. So introduced Honey Glazed in 1983 (which won the Sass Medal in 1989) and Golden Muffin in 1986.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

The laevigata section of irises embraces the
well known Japanese or Kaempferi hybrids. These hybrids have all
been obtained from the single species Kaempferi, one of the four
true species which comprise the group. Although essentially
water lovers, the laevigatas, in common with all other irises,
and with the sole exception of pseudacorus, dislike a badly
drained soil.
Much confusion has existed between laevigata and Kaempferi,
since they were first known to the European botanists a century
ago. This is due to the fact that both species come from the
same districts. They are found in swampy places near Lake
Baikal, and along the banks of the River Amur. Thence, they
occur eastwards through Manchuria, Northern China, to Korea and
Japan. I wish to make it clear that where I write of Kaempferi,
the reference is to the species Kaempferi, the source from which
the Japanese have obtained their marvellous, but, I fear, rather
monstrous, hybrids. By what means they have succeeded in
modifying the wild type, and obtaining those huge double freak
flowers, is a mystery. From the fact that they have obtained a
double form of laevigata as well, we are forced to conclude that
it was not merely a natural chance freak which gave them their
first break, but a carefully guarded horticultural secret. And
no part of the world, and in no section of the genus, has nature
evolved for herself this form of freak flower. The double
laevigata and the double Kaempferi of the Japanese are the only
double irises in existence. In passing, it is interesting to
note that the Japanese have done the same by the chrysanthemum
and the cherry. But nature receipts the interference of these
Oriental hybridists, and if their double hybrids are allowed to
naturalise and seed, in a few generations the seedlings will
throw back to the type of the wild species. Though first
discovered to the Occident in 1837, the true laevigata is still
uncommon in English gardens, and it is almost unknown here. This
is no doubt due to the fact that until fairly recently it was
taken to be synonymous with Kaempferi. Laevigata is chiefly
distinguished from Kaempferi by the characteristic, which earned
for it the name laevigata, which means "smoothed". The tall,
sword shaped leaves are quite smooth, differing therein from
Kaempferi, which carries down each leaf a distinct ribbing, or
ridged veining. The colour of laevigata is a deep, rich blue, of
a shade not seen in any other Iris. The standards are upright,
and the falls tongue like, long and drooping.

There is a garden
form of the type under the name L. albopurpurea, having, as the
name suggests, white and blue flowers. The standards and style
arms are white, and the falls are white heavily mottled with
blue. Strangely enough, this quasi-albino characteristic acts as
a Mendellian recessive, and albopurpurea breeds quite true to
colour. In recent years there has been on the market and Iris,
which is called laevigata 'Rose Queen'. This is apparently a
hybrid between laevigata and Kaempferi , as although the shape
of the flower is like laevigata, the leaves posses the ridged
veining of Kaempferi. The colour of Rose Queen is an even tone
of Peach Blossom or rose pink. It is easily grown, and very
effective when massed.
The cultivation of laevigata is quite simple. Like all the
group, it dislikes lime, but can be grown successfully in any
good garden soil, provided that it is not allowed to dry out
during the summer months.
Kaempferi, as mentioned, comes from the same districts of
Northern and Eastern Asia as does laevigata. It was first noted
by a Western botanists as a species in 1858, but has been in
cultivation in Japanese gardens for centuries. The shape of the
flowers is somewhat similar to laevigata, but the standards are
not so tall, and the falls are perhaps a little broader. The
colour is a rich, deep purple, relieved on the half of the fall
by a narrow stripe of Golden yellow. There is also a white form.
Cultivation is the same as for laevigata, but the Japanese
hybrids require more attention. These latter should be given
plenty of manure, preferably well rotted garden compost or
animal manure, which is best applied during winter when growth
is inactive.
Pseudacorus, the English 'Water Flag' is botanically classed in
the laevigata section. This act is surprising to the casual
observer, but careful examination of the plants will discover
many liberties with the species laevigata and Kaempferi.
Pseudacorus, is too well known to come within the scope of this
series of articles, but, I might mention in passing, that it is
well worth the attention of any Gardener with plenty of
"background" space, and it will grow anywhere, though it does
best in a rich, moist soil. Its natural habitat is over the
whole of Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. The flowers are
bright yellow, varying considerably in colour, size, and height,
as would be expected where distribution is over so wide an area.
There is an American representative of the section in versicolor
(syn. Virginica). This is the American "Water Flag," and
although quite different from Pseudacorus, it has much in common
with that species. Versicolor grows wild from Hudson Bay in the
North to the Gulf of Mexico in the South. The usual colour is a
pale blue purple, though there is a natural red-purple form
called kermesina. Both are very desirable waterside subjects,
and at easy to grow. Culture is the same as for other members of
the section - a damp, lime free soil, rich in humus.
Botanical affinities between the four species of the laevigata
section suggests that inter-crossing should not be a difficult
matter, but with the possible exception of Rose Queen, no hybrid
is known. In inter-crossing it is necessary to de-antherise the
seed bearer as soon as the flower opens, as the flowers of all
the members of the section are so constructed that self
fertilisation is naturally effected.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger,
higher resolution version.
Credit and copyright Iris Hunter.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

RHS Plant Finder 2013, the 27th edition of the ultimate gardener’s guide to UK cultivated plants. Compiled and published by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the UK’s foremost gardening charity, RHS Plant Finder 2013 lists more than 75,000 plants together with details for more than 550 suppliers, making it the most comprehensive directory of plants that are available to buy from UK and Irish nurseries. The new book includes more than 4,300 new plants added since the last edition and reflects the results of the recent Award of Garden Merit (AGM) review, together with the revision of the associated RHS Hardiness Ratings System. Over 5,600 Iris are listed and best of all is the amazing photo of Nora Scopes Iris 'Early Light' on the front cover.

Janet Cubey, Editor-in-Chief of RHS Plant Finder 2013, says: "Compiling RHS Plant Finder each year is a mammoth task. However, the book is such a favourite with gardeners up and down the country and the reaction it gets is always so positive that it’s well worth the effort. The book also holds the key to discovering gardening trends early and always gives readers a bit of insight into what might be appearing in gardens all around them later in the year. Looking for new plants that have a large number of listed suppliers is usually good way of predicting which plants nurseries are really excited about, and is generally a good advance indicator of success." You can buy online from the RHS Books & Gifts Shop

The Award winning British bred Iris 'Early Light' is an absolute classic and a really good opportunity to enlighten readers with some additional information regarding its history.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1989, “The Dykes Medal 1989”, page 8, H.R. Jeffs.
'Early Light' raised by Miss Nora Scopes was, last year awarded the Fothergill Trophy. This year it pursued its victorious career by gaining second prize at Florence and now being given the Dykes Medal for 1989. This Iris was raised from a cross 'Cup Race' x 'Lemon Brocade' and has performed superbly at Wesley where it produces many spikes worthy the of the Josephine Romney Towndrow Trophy. A member of the public talked to me when I was judging this year and said "if I could only take away one Iris from the trial it would be 'Early Light'"and I was able to tell her she had excellent taste!
The stems carry upwards of eight buds and almost always four branches and terminal. Form is impeccable, and the standards are cream flushed with lemon, the falls slightly deeper and the beard yellow. It was selected for trial and registered in 1983 and gained the RHS award of merit in 1986. The height is 38" (97cm). Nora has been giving us fine varieties for many years and this award of a Dykes Medal crowns her efforts which cover so many sections of the genus.

Friday, May 10, 2013

'Lilac Wine' is an unusual colour spectacle that carries well in the garden. Standards are a silvery lilac tone and are highlighted with bronzy beige toned midribs, falls are a dark ruby plum red, yellow tipped beard completes the harmony.
Blooms are well formed and lightly ruffled and are carried on 90 cm
spikes with 6 to 8 buds from early to mid season. Growth, health and
vigour are good, increase is average. This 36 year old sometimes flowers too early for the show-bench which is not really a big bump in the road is it?

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1982, “Varietal comments on Australian T.B. Irises”, page 63, C.E.C. Bartlett.
Cy Bartlett writes about a range of Australian raised Tall Bearded irises and how they performed in Somerset.Lilac Wine (Blyth, 77) This Iris has silvery lilac
standards and velvety plum red falls with yellow beards. Its growth
habits, branching and bud count are reasonable. There are several
varieties of this colour combination available but what makes this Iris
noteworthy is its earliness.
IRISES A Gardener's Encyclopedia, Claire AustinIris 'Lilac Wine' (Blyth, 77) the velvety, deep red brown falls have deeper brown veins. Above the falls sit pale lilac standards that our heavily flashed with beige. The beards are yellow, and the flower is scented. Height 91 cm (36½ inches). Bloom early to midseason. Parentage (Barcelona x Outer Limits) X (Snowlight x Visionary sibling)

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Arrived home yesterday from Wellington to witness
one of the 'Anomalies of
Autumn' Walking around the garden to 'see what's happening' as
you do, a familiar fragrance lead me to an area
of the garden where the New Zealand bred deciduous azalea 'Pavlova' was
showing it's bright autumn colours and right next door to it was a clump of fragrant
jonquils blooming. Just a wee bit early don't you think????? Took a photo to share.
Nice welcome home I thought!

Clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man".

George Bernard Shaw

WELCOME

HERITAGE IRISES

INDEPENDENT ALWAYS

Welcome to Heritage Irises, and
do make yourself at home. The blog shares the magic of Irises and
will feature some very special New Zealand raised varieties
including the brilliance of our very own Jean Stevens (1900-1967).
Each and every iris growing in New Zealand are a part of our Iris
Heritage and will all become historic or heirloom irises one day so
why not start early and give them all a good home! Writing and
researching about heirloom irises is just a hobby and the blog is my
diary notes and observations of the Irises I grow and like at
home.I'm really enjoying myself, although blogging is a lot like a
virus that invades the mind and body and you can't rid yourself of
it, in the nicest possibly way of course. Click on any photo to view
a larger image.

They took all the trees And put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people A dollar and a half just to see 'emDon't it always seem to go,That you don't know what you've got 'Til it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot Yellow Taxi

Joni Mitchell

A 10 year old 5.1 mega pixel Fuji Finepix S5600 digital camera has been used exclusively for all photos able to be viewed on the blog that are accredited to Iris Hunter. Why such an old camera you may ask? Well its an easy camera to work with, but more importantly it reinforces my view that you don't have to invest thousands of dollars in equipment to produce a reasonably swish Blog

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This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings.We are not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission.This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 1st, 2012. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly here: "Iris.Hunter @ oakwaters.com"(spaces added to deter spambots, please remove when e-mailing me).